By Judy Villanueva

John 5:-2-9

Now there is in Jerusalem by the sheep gate a pool, which is called in Hebrew Bethesda, having five porticoes. In these lay a multitude of those who were sick, blind, lame, and withered, waiting for the moving of the waters; for an angel of the Lord went down at certain seasons into the pool and stirred up the water; whoever then first, after the stirring up of the water, stepped in was made well from whatever disease with which he was afflicted. A man was there who had been ill for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he had already been a long time in that condition, He *said to him, “Do you wish to get well?” The sick man answered Him, “Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, but while I am coming, another steps down before me.” Jesus *said to him, “Get up, pick up your pallet and walk.” Immediately the man became well, and picked up his pallet and began to walk.

Thirty-eight years! What a long, long time to hope for healing…to wait for healing! I can only imagine how utterly powerless this man felt…how hopeless. I wonder if he was so tired of hoping that he had, for the most part, given up on the life he’d dreamed of and yet, there he sat waiting by a pool that promised life.

What a beautiful moment that must have been when Jesus “saw him lying there, and knew that he had already been a long time in that condition!” It touches my heart even now as I read it! To be seen and known is the soul’s deepest need! I know it is mine! I would guess that to the local people, he was probably like part of the landscape…day after day, lying by the pool, waiting for the waters to stir. And, we read that not only was there no one to help him get into the pool, but others would step in before him. Yuck!

But, not Jesus! “Do you wish to be well?” An odd question to ask a man who has been ill thirty-eight years unless it’s about more than the question…Unless Jesus was stirring a different pool! Can you hear the words? Stir! Can you picture the look on the man’s face? Someone sees him! Someone cares! Stir! Jesus confronts the sick man’s misplaced hope in a pool of water with a question that I think was meant to stir true hope in the true Healer! And, the man answers by telling Jesus about the obstacles that have kept him from entering the pool, to which Jesus responds, “Get up! Pick up your pallet and walk!” I’m trying to imagine what it would feel like to hear Omnipotence say, “Get up!” or Infinite Love say, “Walk!” And, I wonder what it does to a sick man’s soul to be seen, known, and loved by Jesus…or to my own!

“Jesus, I thank You that you see and know me. You don’t cut in ahead of me and you don’t stand back and watch my suffering. You come to me! Stir up faith and revive a hopeful heart in me. Help me to discern where I’ve misplaced hopes in pools of water and let me hear Omnipotence say ‘Get up!’ and Infinite Love say ‘Walk!’ Amen.”

What about you?

Do you want to be well? Do you need God to stir up hope in you?

Have you been discouraged or worn out by a long time illness, trial, or deferred hope?

What is the object of your hope? Are you looking for the ripples in a pool with no power or at the Omnipotent God?

God sees and knows you. He cares about your life. He is with you in your places of need. He is infinite Love and all-powerful Hope.